Last of the upgrades ;)
audiocr381ve
Posts: 2,588
I'm not gonna lie, I've been sneaking around this place late at night when all the lights are off so no one would notice me. Yes, you might have seen me in a black hoody :cool:
The SDA-2B TL's just sound wonderful. I've been thoroughly enjoying them! The spike upgrade made a tremendous difference, especially on my tile floors.
With business going very well, I've been VERY curious about a few upgrades and I want to finish these speakers off since we have some extra change this month.
1. Larry's Rings
2. The Magic Armaflex in addition to Larry's Rings
3. SDA Cable Upgrade
4. New Binding posts both for speaker cables and SDA cable
I'd love to hear your thoughts/tips/advice before proceeding.
The SDA-2B TL's just sound wonderful. I've been thoroughly enjoying them! The spike upgrade made a tremendous difference, especially on my tile floors.
With business going very well, I've been VERY curious about a few upgrades and I want to finish these speakers off since we have some extra change this month.
1. Larry's Rings
2. The Magic Armaflex in addition to Larry's Rings
3. SDA Cable Upgrade
4. New Binding posts both for speaker cables and SDA cable
I'd love to hear your thoughts/tips/advice before proceeding.
Post edited by audiocr381ve on
Comments
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Doro could tell you what vampire has for drop in replacements for the binding posts so you wont need to make the holes bigger.(like I did to fit the eichmans)
Dont forget the dynamat extreme for the driver and PR baskets.
I made my own custom SDA cable using DH Labs T-14 cable and cardas silver spades.Very easy DIY.SDA-2BTL with custom IC
Adcom 565 monoblocks--Monarchy Audio M-10 preamp
Theta Data Basic Transport--Stello DA100 Signature DAC--Camelot Dragon Pro2 MK III
Harman Kardon T-55c TT
DH Labs Q-10 Signature Speaker Cables With Furez silver plated copper bananas
Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver Reference AES/EBU
Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver i2s digital cable
4 Furutech FP-314Ag with FI-11cu Plugs/FI-11AG IECs--- Power Cords
DH LABS REVELATIONS ICs-amps
Revelation Audio Labs Paradise cryo-silver ICs-Source to pre -
Rings and dynamat will be my next upgrades. Bought an upgraded SDA IC from Ben here on the forum. Not sure if those are available right now though. I've thought about doing the binding posts but never bothered to research them to find out what to use or how much they cost.____________________________________________________________
polkaudio Fully Modded SDA SRS 1.2TLs + Dreadnaught, LSiM706c, 4 X Polk Surrounds + 4 X ATMOS, SVS PB13 Ultra X 2, Pass Labs X1, Marantz 7704, Bob Carver Crimson Beauty 350 Tube Mono Blocks, Carver Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5, ADCOM GFA 7807, Panasonic UB420, Moon 380D DAC, EPSON Pro Cinema 6050 -
If you are going through the trouble of pulling it all apart, go for the rings/dynamat/armaflex upgrades in one shot. That way you won't have to fuss with opening them again
Burson HA-160D > Adcom GFA-5802 > Polk SDA-SRS 1.2tl w/ Mye Sound Spikes, Mills/Sonicap XO, Larry's Rings, Dynamat Extreme, Cardas CCGR Binding Posts and Jumpers, Custom 10ga interconnect, Custom Gaskets, RDO-198 -
http://www.soniccraft.com/products/connections/bindingpost/vampire_bphexcb.htm
Here is a link to the binding posts. They are not cheap. A less expensive alternative, but is not a drop in replacement is either of these.
http://www.soniccraft.com/products/connections/bindingpost/cardas_ccbp.htm
http://www.soniccraft.com/products/connections/bindingpost/cardas_ccgr.htm
You are going to pay more to have copper binding posts. But to quote Face, "Brass sounds like a$$" So if upgrading for a nice speaker, go the copper route. -
It also depends on the sound you want. Gold has a warmer sound, while silver is a bit more detailed. I'm personally a fan of the ccgr now.
I also second just doing it all at once. Taking them apart over and over is a pain in the tucus.Turntable: Empire 208
Arm: Rega 300
Cart: Shelter 501 III
Phono Pre: Aural Thrills
Digital: Pioneer DV-79ai
Pre: Conrad Johnson ET3 SE
Amp: Conrad Johnson Evolution 2000
Cables: Cardas Neutral Reference
Speakers: SDA 2.3TL, heavily modified -
Thanks for the thoughts and links, gentlemen.
It's going to be a one shot deal. The dynamat has been done already. I'm waiting on a response from Larry about the rings. I'm excited to finish this! -
Rings are on the way! (well, not really. I literally just sent the payment). I'm super excited about these.
I want to start on the SDA Cable/Binding post upgrade. Looks like their's enough info to get me going. I was gonna try some Belden 5000 from Blue Jeans for the SDA cable, unless somebody recommends something else
EDIT: For the binding posts, would I need the "long" or "short" assembly? -
audiocr381ve wrote: »Rings are on the way! (well, not really. I literally just sent the payment). I'm super excited about these.
I want to start on the SDA Cable/Binding post upgrade. Looks like their's enough info to get me going. I was gonna try some Belden 5000 from Blue Jeans for the SDA cable, unless somebody recommends something else
EDIT: For the binding posts, would I need the "long" or "short" assembly?
You could use either. I used the long and soldered the wires from the xover to them. Can't remember the model name but it was Cardas gold plated pure copper from Sonicraft.
In my 2.3TL's the connection from the xover to the Pin/Blade plug was barely there - the crimped wire came apart in my hand when I started looking at it. I built a 12 awg IC cable out of teflon coated 24 awg wire (18 strands). The improvement was not subtle."Science is suppose to explain observations not dismiss them as impossible" - Norm on AA; 2.3TL's w/sonicaps/mills/jantzen inductors, Gimpod's boards, Lg Solen SDA inductors, RD-0198's, MW's dynamatted, Armaflex speaker gaskets, H-nuts, brass spikes, Cardas CCGR BP's, upgraded IC Cable, Black Hole Damping Sheet strips, interior of cabinets sealed with Loctite Power Grab, AI-1 interface with 1000VA A-L transformer -
Not trying to purposefully short orders to Sonic Craft, but the CCGR binding posts are a little better deal from here: http://www.hndme.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=440&idcategory=139
Unless you are already ordering other things from Sonic Craft then there is no reason for paying two shipping charges as it would negate the savings. If the binding posts are the only thing you need, then buy them from Handmade Electtronics (IMO).
Greg
Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
"I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion."![:\](https://forum.polkaudio.com/resources/emoji/confused.png ":\")
My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....
"Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson
"Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee -
audiocr381ve wrote: »I'm not gonna lie, I've been sneaking around this place late at night when all the lights are off so no one would notice me. Yes, you might have seen me in a black hoody :cool:
The SDA-2B TL's just sound wonderful. I've been thoroughly enjoying them! The spike upgrade made a tremendous difference, especially on my tile floors.
With business going very well, I've been VERY curious about a few upgrades and I want to finish these speakers off since we have some extra change this month.
1. Larry's Rings
2. The Magic Armaflex in addition to Larry's Rings
3. SDA Cable Upgrade
4. New Binding posts both for speaker cables and SDA cable
I'd love to hear your thoughts/tips/advice before proceeding.
If you truly have been lurking around in a black hoody and doing your SDA-2B homework, you would know there are about a thousand posts here in CP expressing the collective "thoughts/tips/advice" for those cabinets.VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
NAD SS rigs w/mods
GIK panels -
inspiredsports wrote: »If you truly have been lurking around in a black hoody and doing your SDA-2B homework, you would know there are about a thousand posts here in CP expressing the collective "thoughts/tips/advice" for those cabinets.
That stick must hurt up there bro! :eek: There is a common theme of helpfulness and support in this thread and you come in to say something like that? Come on man...
Thanks for suggestions guys. I'm looking into it. I've ordered from Sonic Craft in the past with success so I'm going to use them again. -
Not trying to purposefully short orders to Sonic Craft, but the CCGR binding posts are a little better deal from here: http://www.hndme.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=440&idcategory=139
I vouch for Handmade - placed many orders from them over the years - as helpful and courteous as Soniccraft - can't fault either of them!
Burson HA-160D > Adcom GFA-5802 > Polk SDA-SRS 1.2tl w/ Mye Sound Spikes, Mills/Sonicap XO, Larry's Rings, Dynamat Extreme, Cardas CCGR Binding Posts and Jumpers, Custom 10ga interconnect, Custom Gaskets, RDO-198 -
Not trying to purposefully short orders to Sonic Craft, but the CCGR binding posts are a little better deal from here: http://www.hndme.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=440&idcategory=139
Unless you are already ordering other things from Sonic Craft then there is no reason for paying two shipping charges as it would negate the savings. If the binding posts are the only thing you need, then buy them from Handmade Electtronics (IMO).
Greg
Actually, Handmade and Sonicraft prices are almost dead even - the latter is $0.01 cheaper.
But if you can save on shipping I'd say that's a tie breaker as Handmade is a reputable company too. I've ordered stuff from them and been happy."Science is suppose to explain observations not dismiss them as impossible" - Norm on AA; 2.3TL's w/sonicaps/mills/jantzen inductors, Gimpod's boards, Lg Solen SDA inductors, RD-0198's, MW's dynamatted, Armaflex speaker gaskets, H-nuts, brass spikes, Cardas CCGR BP's, upgraded IC Cable, Black Hole Damping Sheet strips, interior of cabinets sealed with Loctite Power Grab, AI-1 interface with 1000VA A-L transformer -
Good stuff guys.
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drumminman wrote: »Actually, Handmade and Sonicraft prices are almost dead even - the latter is $0.01 cheaper.
But if you can save on shipping I'd say that's a tie breaker as Handmade is a reputable company too. I've ordered stuff from them and been happy.
If you order 2 or more sets the price per set drops to $27.42. So you save about $10.00 overall. Not a huge difference, but it's lunch.
Greg
Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
"I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion."
My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....
"Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson
"Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
